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University of Western Ontario students call for change following allegations of sexual violence....
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-university-of-western-ontario-students-call-for-change-following/This twitter thread made me look it up on the media:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1438273529506668545.html
I’m a 4th year Western student and 3 time orientation leader. This entire O-Week was horrific. I helped lead a predominantly female team. There were multiple instances where myself or other sophs were screamed at, pushed, and touched inappropriately by men. 1/10
It was before midnight on Friday when we saw people start to drop like flies. Before midnight when we saw ambulances rush to three separate girls in less than a 100m radius. The rumours about people being drugged started circulating immediately. Sophs reported this early. 2/10
We weren’t allowed in residence buildings due to covid protocol. I get that. But even as we begged higher ups and administration to check on people and let us help make sure everyone was safe, we were denied access. 3/10
In the hours between 12 & 3, in one tiny corner of campus, sophs helped with 6 crisis situations involving incapacitated first year students. And those were only the events I was there for. I’ve heard of countless other horrifying stories from sophs across campus that night 4/10
happened to come across the horrifying scene of the assault where a first year student lost his life. First responders were present and dealing with the primary concerns of victim and assailant. But sophs were the ones who dealt with the aftershock. 5/10
Sophs were the ones to try to calm his friend who was still in shock. They consoled two girls who stopped to help and were still covered in blood. We notified admin and begged for more resources for them we were told that the situation was “off campus” 6/10
Between two residence buildings. Behind the 7/11. And somehow that location meant that Western wasn’t immediately obligated to help its own students who had just witnessed unspeakable atrocities. 7/10
Sure, the resource links came the next day. The USC has heard us out. Some of us were given time off school. But the trauma that so many sophs and first years are facing is unspeakable. My heart breaks for every single person who no longer feels safe here. I know I don’t. 8/10
I’m sorry for the culture perpetuated here that made people feel entitled to your body. I’m sorry that we couldn’t interfere sooner. I’m sorry that the university failed to keep you safe. I promise to listen to you, to stand with you, and to be your voice if you need one. 9/10
This weekend’s events have been completely life altering for people. The anger, shame, guilt, devastation, and grief are palpable around campus. Nothing about this can ever be swept under the rug. I hope @WesternU is ready to take action because I know the students are. 10/10
It was before midnight on Friday when we saw people start to drop like flies. Before midnight when we saw ambulances rush to three separate girls in less than a 100m radius. The rumours about people being drugged started circulating immediately. Sophs reported this early. 2/10
We weren’t allowed in residence buildings due to covid protocol. I get that. But even as we begged higher ups and administration to check on people and let us help make sure everyone was safe, we were denied access. 3/10
In the hours between 12 & 3, in one tiny corner of campus, sophs helped with 6 crisis situations involving incapacitated first year students. And those were only the events I was there for. I’ve heard of countless other horrifying stories from sophs across campus that night 4/10
happened to come across the horrifying scene of the assault where a first year student lost his life. First responders were present and dealing with the primary concerns of victim and assailant. But sophs were the ones who dealt with the aftershock. 5/10
Sophs were the ones to try to calm his friend who was still in shock. They consoled two girls who stopped to help and were still covered in blood. We notified admin and begged for more resources for them we were told that the situation was “off campus” 6/10
Between two residence buildings. Behind the 7/11. And somehow that location meant that Western wasn’t immediately obligated to help its own students who had just witnessed unspeakable atrocities. 7/10
Sure, the resource links came the next day. The USC has heard us out. Some of us were given time off school. But the trauma that so many sophs and first years are facing is unspeakable. My heart breaks for every single person who no longer feels safe here. I know I don’t. 8/10
I’m sorry for the culture perpetuated here that made people feel entitled to your body. I’m sorry that we couldn’t interfere sooner. I’m sorry that the university failed to keep you safe. I promise to listen to you, to stand with you, and to be your voice if you need one. 9/10
This weekend’s events have been completely life altering for people. The anger, shame, guilt, devastation, and grief are palpable around campus. Nothing about this can ever be swept under the rug. I hope @WesternU is ready to take action because I know the students are. 10/10
from:
Link to tweet
Media article here:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-university-of-western-ontario-students-call-for-change-following/
Students at the University of Western Ontario are calling for systemic change to address the threat of sexual violence on campus after allegations that young women were drugged and sexually assaulted in residence last week.
Ziyana Kotadia, vice-president of the Western University Students’ Council, said responding to individual wrongdoing is not enough. The university must recognize that it needs a framework to address education, policy and prevention, she said.
“I think that there is a culture at Western that we’ve seen over the course of the last several years that needs to be interrupted,” Ms. Kotadia said. “We need to be thinking about how to address gender-based sexual violence as a system.”
Reports on social media over the weekend said young women in Medway-Sydenham Hall, a Western campus residence, were drugged and in some cases sexually assaulted after gatherings last Friday. The university and London police say they are investigating, but have received no information about the alleged events. They asked students who may have been harmed or were witnesses to come forward.
Ziyana Kotadia, vice-president of the Western University Students’ Council, said responding to individual wrongdoing is not enough. The university must recognize that it needs a framework to address education, policy and prevention, she said.
“I think that there is a culture at Western that we’ve seen over the course of the last several years that needs to be interrupted,” Ms. Kotadia said. “We need to be thinking about how to address gender-based sexual violence as a system.”
Reports on social media over the weekend said young women in Medway-Sydenham Hall, a Western campus residence, were drugged and in some cases sexually assaulted after gatherings last Friday. The university and London police say they are investigating, but have received no information about the alleged events. They asked students who may have been harmed or were witnesses to come forward.